Month: May 2017

Osten Cracks Down on ‘Derbygate’ Excesses

Posted on by Webmaster

Osten Cracks Down on ‘Derbygate’ Excesses

Seeking to address the year-old controversy surrounding the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative (CMEEC) and its corporate trips to the Kentucky Derby, state Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) today led the unanimous and bipartisan passage of a bill that will renew public confidence in CMEEC.

“This bill requires open, transparent actions on the part of a quasi-public agency, as it should be,” Sen. Osten said. “All of the changes included in this bill will help allow the public to begin trusting their utility company once again.”

Senate Bill 4, “AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC UTILITY COOPERATIVES,” prohibits municipal electric energy cooperatives like CMEEC from holding meetings, public hearings, strategic retreats, or similar activities outside of the state.

The bill requires CMEEC, its member utilities, and member utilities’ municipalities to post notices, agendas, and minutes for meetings and public hearings on their websites. For strategic retreats and similar activities, the bill requires CMEEC’s cooperative utility board to approve, at a meeting, the retreat or activity.

The bill also requires CMEEC to have a forensic audit of its books and accounts conducted annually by an independent auditing firm and post the audit’s report on various websites, and that—for each of the CMEEC’s member utilities—the bill requires the board to include one member, appointed by the legislative body of the member utility’s municipality, who is a commercial or residential ratepayer of the member utility operating in the legislative body’s municipality.

The CMEEC controversy began last year when news reports detailed how CMEEC board members, staff, guests and municipal officials took very expensive trips to the Kentucky Derby. The trips were not related to CMEEC’s main job, which is to negotiate wholesale power agreements for Norwich, Groton, Jewett City, and Norwalk.

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Looney Leads Passage of Bill Requiring Emergency Generators at Bella Vista

Posted on by Webmaster

Looney Leads Passage of Bill Requiring Emergency Generators at Bella Vista

Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven) last night led passage of Senate Bill 772, An Act Requiring Emergency Generators in Certain Housing for the Elderly. Bella Vista was the site of a major brownout and elevator service failure which trapped nearly 1,000 elderly residents inside the towers with temperatures reaching nearly 100 degrees.

Bella Vista is a privately owned multifamily housing project. Many of its buildings are 15 stories in height.

The legislation requires that the owners shall install and maintain one or more emergency power generators capable of providing a minimum of four to 12 hours of sufficient electrical power to (1) each unit for heating, water, lighting and critical medical equipment, and (2) each passenger elevator.

“We saw firsthand the emergency situation precipitated by a power failure at Bella Vista,” said Senator Looney (D-New Haven). “Many elderly residents and residents with medical issues—some of whom are dependent on medical equipment—were unable to physically navigate the stairs and exit the building, requiring police and fire personnel to evacuate the residents. This bill will help prevent that type of situation from happening ever again.”

“It is vital that we continue to invest in the safety of our senior citizens. Senate Bill 772 ensures that senior housing establishments will be able to maintain sufficient power during emergencies,” said Rep. Al Paolillo (D-New Haven). “New Haven is home to Bella Vista, where countless senior residents reside. This bill puts the necessary safeguards in place to minimize any potential health or safety risks seniors may face during emergencies such as heat waves or snowstorms.”

In February, Lt. Rachel Cain of the New Haven Police Department, who responded to the incident at Bella Vista, testified in support of the bill before the Aging Committee. Lt. Cain testified, “One of the reasons this has stayed with me for so long is because I saw, firsthand, the effects this needless uprooting had on hundreds of elderly individuals. Although we cannot protect them from all unpredictable occurrences, we can predict that this will occur again.”

Senator Winfield E-News: Blood Donors Needed!

Posted on by Webmaster

Connecticut Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Balance the 2017 State Budget

Posted on by Webmaster

Connecticut Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Balance the 2017 State Budget

Keeps approximately $30 million in the state’s rainy day fund,
Restores millions of dollars to municipalities, state parks and programs for those with intellectual disabilities

Hartford – Today Senate Democrats and Republicans passed a bipartisan deficit mitigation plan to address the $317 million shortfall in the state budget for the current year which ends on June 30, 2017.

The plan passed by the Senate protects the $19.4 million June Pequot Payment, $1 million in privately raised monies for state parks and $1 million in funding for employment opportunities and day services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hospitals will also be held harmless to cuts.

The state’s budget reserve fund maintains a balance of approximately $30 million under the Senate’s plan.

The bipartisan deficit mitigation bill transfers funds from other accounts to restore the funds identified.

Following the passage of the deficit mitigation plan, the Senate also passed a deficiency bill passed in the House of Representatives last week to allow the state to continue paying for core services in the final weeks of the fiscal year. This includes funding for the Birth-to-Three program, Department of Developmental Services, Office of the Public Defender Services Commission, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Services, and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

“Today’s bipartisan vote in the Senate will ensure that Connecticut will end the fiscal year with a balanced budget despite the challenges presented by a deficit that emerged with only two months left in the fiscal year,” said Senate President Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven). “Much difficult work remains, and tough choices lie ahead as we craft a state budget for the next biennium.”

“Any cuts so late in the fiscal year are difficult to absorb. But together, lawmakers were able to revise the governor’s proposed budget changes to protect towns and cities, privately raised funds contributed to state parks, and programs for individuals with disabilities,” said Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano (R-North Haven). “To cut this funding as other proposals called for so late in the fiscal year would have led to significant shortfalls in funding for core services. I hope that this bipartisan effort to make difficult decisions together will propel lawmakers forward as we take on the much more challenging task of finalizing a state budget for the next two fiscal years.”

“It’s important that we came to a bipartisan consensus this evening to address the fiscal condition we have encountered so late in the year,” said Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague), who is Co-Chair of the Appropriations Committee. “Tonight’s action sets us on a stronger fiscal footing to close out the year and allows us to focus on the much larger challenge ahead of crafting a biennial state budget.”

“I thank my Senate colleagues for coming together to pass these two important measures with bipartisan support,” said State Senator Paul Formica (R-East Lyme), co-chair of the Appropriations Committee. “This is an important first step in getting the state’s finances in order so we can tackle the significant budgetary problems on the horizon.”

The deficit mitigation bill now moves to the House of Representatives.

Senator Flexer Leads Passage of Bill to Support Gold Star Families

Posted on by Webmaster

Senator Flexer Leads Passage of Bill to Support Gold Star Families

Bill would allow municipalities to provide property tax relief to the parents and surviving spouses of military personnel killed in active duty service

 

Hartford, CT – In a unanimous, bipartisan vote the State Senate Tuesday passed a bill to provide property tax relief to Gold Star Families in the State of Connecticut.

Senate Bill 918, An Act Concerning A Municipal Option Property Tax Exemption For Gold Star Parents, will next be debated in the State House of Representatives.

Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson) wrote the bill and led its passage in the Senate.

“I think it is extremely appropriate that we have taken up this legislation today, which is the original date of Memorial Day,” said Sen. Flexer, the Senate Chair of the General Assembly’s Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Many of us have spent the last several days remembering and paying tribute to the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice serving our great country and to the families who lost loved ones in conflict. We must do all that we can to support our Gold Star families, and I am proud that we were able to pass this bill with broad support from both sides of the political aisle.”

Senate Bill 918 grants municipalities a local option to implement a tax property exemption for up to $20,000 or 10 percent of the property’s value to Gold Star parents. Gold star parents are those whose son or daughter was killed in a war. The bill also contains language extending the exemption to the surviving spouses of military personnel who die in the line of duty.

Sen. Osten, State Senate Pass Bipartisan Bill to Close the 2017 Year-end Budget Shortfall

Posted on by Webmaster

Sen. Osten, State Senate Pass Bipartisan Bill to Close the 2017 Year-end Budget Shortfall

State Senator Cathy Osten (D-Sprague) joined Democratic and Republican members of the state Senate this evening in a unanimous and bipartisan vote on a deficit mitigation plan to address the $317 million shortfall in the state budget for the current fiscal year which ends on June 30.

“It’s important that we came to a bipartisan consensus this evening to address the fiscal condition we have encountered so late in the year,” said Sen. Osten, who is Co-Chair of the Appropriations Committee. “Tonight’s action sets us on a stronger fiscal footing to close out the year and allows us to focus on the much larger challenge ahead of crafting a biennial state budget.”

The plan passed this evening protects the $19.4 million June Pequot payment to cities and towns, protects $1 million in privately raised monies for state parks, and protects $1 million in funding for employment opportunities and day services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Hospitals will also be held harmless to cuts.

The state’s budget reserve fund maintains a balance of approximately $30 million, while the bill also transfers funds from other accounts.

Following passage of the deficit mitigation plan, the Senate also passed a deficiency bill approved in the House of Representatives last week to allow the state to continue paying for core services in the final weeks of the fiscal year. These core services include funding for the Birth-to-Three program, Department of Developmental Services, Office of the Public Defender Services Commission, Department of Public Safety and Emergency Services, and Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

“I thank my Senate colleagues for coming together to pass these two important measures with bipartisan support,” said Senator Paul Formica (R-East Lyme), who is Co-Chair of the Appropriations Committee. “This is an important first step in getting the state’s finances in order so we can tackle the significant budgetary problems on the horizon.”

The deficit mitigation bill now moves to the House of Representatives.

Remembering Fallen Heroes of the 22nd District

Posted on by Webmaster

Remembering Fallen Heroes of the 22nd District

On this Memorial Day, let’s take a moment to commemorate the sacrifices of our military men and women who have given their lives in service to our country.

Since our nation’s founding, Connecticut residents have answered the call of duty in defense of the United States.

There is a “Wall of Honor” at the State Capitol that pays tribute to the Connecticut men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces who lost their lives in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

There are three faces on this wall from our community:

veterans

I would ask that we all keep the fallen in our minds and their families in our hearts as we honor their immense sacrifice.

Senator Winfield E-News: Remembering on Memorial Day

Posted on by Webmaster

Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Combat Human Trafficking

Posted on by Webmaster

Senate Passes Bipartisan Bill to Combat Human Trafficking

The Connecticut Senate today passed a bill to combat human trafficking in Connecticut through increased penalties, training and awareness.

HB 7309, An Act Concerning Human Trafficking, aims to prevent sex trafficking by adding members to the state’s Trafficking in Persons Council, increasing penalties for sex trafficking, and providing greater education to state agencies.

“This legislation makes it crystal clear to perpetrators that we take the crime of human trafficking extremely seriously in our state, and those who perpetrate it will face the same punishment in our courts as they would at the federal level,” said Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson). “Victims of human trafficking face a lifetime of recovery from the trauma of the abuse they suffer at the hands of traffickers, and it is only right that the criminals who inflict that trauma face stiff penalties. Those caught trafficking people in Connecticut should and will be charged with a class A felony and face up to 25 years in prison. Additionally, we have taken a strong stand by changing the penalty for patronizing a minor who is being sold for sex to a class A felony. We will not tolerate this type of abuse, and I am proud that this bill passed with unanimous, bipartisan support.”

The bill would:

  • Expand the membership of the state’s Trafficking in Persons Council, including adding an individual who has been a victim of sex trafficking.
  • Increase the penalty for trafficking in persons from a class B to a class A felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison in line with federal statute, and broaden the definition of “sex trafficking”.
  • Create a new crime, “commercial sex abuse of a minor,” which would be a class B felony, and a Class A felony if the minor is under 15 years of age. Patronizing a minor is currently a class C felony.
  • Require an increased number of businesses to post signage with the Trafficking in Persons Council hotline number.
  • Provide and require training for state public safety, legal, and health care employees, and public school employees for identifying and reporting human trafficking.

The bill passed on a unanimous and bipartisan basis in the House of Representatives on May 17 and in the Senate Friday morning. It goes next to the desk of Governor Dannel P. Malloy for his signature.

Flexer Leads Senate Passage of Bill Strengthening Domestic Violence Laws

Posted on by Webmaster

Flexer Leads Senate Passage of Bill Strengthening Domestic Violence Laws

State Senator Mae Flexer (D-Danielson) today led passage of a bill to strengthen domestic violence laws in Connecticut and increase penalties for stalking and other forms of violence against women.

House Bill 7299, An Act Concerning Strengthening Laws Concerning Domestic Violence, passed the Senate in a bipartisan, unanimous vote.

The bill amends criminal statute governing stalking to include social media, telephone and other forms of harassment, tracking and intimidation, and strengthens penalties for those convicted of stalking. It also reclassifies suffocation under the strangulation statutes, and enhances the penalty for violation of the conditions of release of an offender.

“It is incredibly important that we ensure that victims of domestic violence feel as safe and secure as possible when they make the decision to leave a dangerous and abusive relationship, and it is equally important that there are protections in place for that victim after the fact,” said Sen. Flexer. “Stalking forces a person to live in constant fear, and often leads to violence, which can be deadly. I am proud that our state has put in place some of the strongest laws in the country around domestic violence over the last several years, and has today taken action to address stalking for the serious crime that it is.”

“Stalking is one of the most prevalent risk factors for fatal intimate partner violence,” said Karen Jarmoc, Chief Executive Officer for the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. “In Connecticut, over 70 percent of screened victims report having their daily activities controlled and nearly 50 percent report being followed, both of which often cause significant emotional distress for the victim. This measure strengthens Connecticut’s anti-stalking laws and improves the ability of law enforcement to intervene in these dangerous situations before they turn fatal. We thank the General Assembly for its unanimous support.”

The bill earlier passed the State House of Representatives unanimously.

If signed into law, the bill would:

  • Change the “standard of fear” required for the stalking statutes;
  • Include suffocation in the strangulation statutes;
  • Delete from the statues the requirement that the contents of a restraining order forwarded to law enforcement include the applicant’s affidavit;
  • Amend the violations of conditions of release statute to provide for an enhanced penalty;
  • And amend the pre-sentence investigation statutes to prohibit the waiver of such investigation statutes to prohibit the waiver of such investigation in the case of a family violence crime.